Posted on 08/29/2014 8:59:12 PM PDT by JohnKinAK
A recently recorded video is circulating online of Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, calling on congregants at Lakewood Church to ‘do good for your own self’ because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness.
“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God—I mean, that’s one way to look at it—we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we’re happy,” she declares in the undated 36-second clip with her husband standing by her side and nodding. “That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy…”
“So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy,” Osteen continues. “When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”
SNIP
Steve Camp, pastor of The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida and former singer/songwriter, told Christian News Network that he viewed the video on Wednesday, and while saddened, he was not surprised at her remarks. He stated that Osteen’s statements were humanistic in nature and antithetical to Scripture.
“It’s the age old sin of idolatry—that it’s not about God, it’s about us,” he explained. “True worship for the humanist is about how we feel at the end of the day and what gives us meaning, as opposed to what gives God glory.”
“When we come to see men happy rather than God glorified, it’s not worship, it’s idolatry,” Camp stated, reading from Psalm 115:1,
(Excerpt) Read more at christiannews.net ...
So Jesus died on the cross for my self-happiness! Never knew that. </sarc>
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Not Christianity. Christianish.
It's all about HIM, not us.
1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
**Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.**
Amen.
No. We are to think about others and love them more than ourselves.
The world doesn't need more self-love. The problem with the world is too much self-love.
What we need is people who love others as they love themselves.
Jesus did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking the form a servant. And He laid down His life for us.
If we loved others and treated them better than ourselves, sacrificially, as Jesus did, THEN this world would be a better place.
Tickling of the ears...regarding Osteen, that is.
Salvation can be found through Jesus Christ, whether Protestant or Catholic. I find intellectual snobbery and pride distasteful, however.
If I were to put that theory into work in my marriage, instead of putting my husband first, our marriage would be in trouble.
People DO put themselves first. That is why the world is so screwed up.
Joel’s father, John, was a good man ... humble. He started his church on nothing. Joel inherited this and turned it into this mega church. There are a lot of people who just want to feel good...and he says what they want to hear. It does make Joel rich.. no question, it’s a money maker.
Likely you mean as in being self reliant, or dealing with your own problems first, but in context, making your own happiness the highest ethic in taking care of yourself, is why both Osteen's church is full and libs are too much in office: "Think not what you can do for God and country, but what they can do for you."
Big. Add a zero or two for Mega.
It is true that we can add nothing to, nor take anything away from God. I that sense, God will always be God despite anything that I do or say.
However, as you say, scripture is the basis for what we believe. And if Jesus thought the Sermon on the Mount was important to impart to us, then then the joy of His children is important to God. At the same time, the direction to worship only Him, is evidence that it’s important that God be glorified.
Thanks for your comments.
Well the O’Steen’s must be making God ecstatic with their lavish lifestyle. LOL!!!!
Olsens’s wife would of course think this in the environment and teaching of her husband....and is where her head and heart are at. Highly materialistic it is no surprise she would view life from her selfish position.
Same with their church....which is ‘the platform’ for their successful lifestyle rather than that of the congregation's learning to love and serve Jesus Christ.
Olsen really is a “motivational speaker” who uses the name of Christ to authenticate his stage presence to the masses.
Just another of many today of the “feely good” today false teachers out there.
....”New age “Christianity”......
Yes, but it’s generally masking the entire New Age ‘Spirituality’ movement fast encroaching on society today. And this in churches as well as governments.
I've mentioned a large Mega Church I attended over Christmas last year....on entrance the Siberian Orchestra's music thundered so loud, with smoke and guitarist's jumping into the air like a rock concert, that one could not imagine “hearing” anything else amid the noise.
The Pastor spoke entirely about the growth of the church and all it's “satellite” churches.....called Campuses. This was a service about Jesus’s Birth with barely anything said about that at all...rather used for a moment to justify everything else one saw. Remarkably even the Manager Scene was far back against the Wall barely seen.
Terrible what is happening in the churches today Metmom...terrible still is the total acceptance of "the show".
Osteen is a charliton. It’s all about “self” with them. Look at the quote by his wife. “do good for your own self’ because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness.” Say what?? I think Jesus will one day say “I never knew you” to them and those that follow them.
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Its very socially conservative
Zero talk of earthly nirvana or cash
Salvation and Obedience
Road map to everlasting life focus
And Obedience....zero PC
Course its Southern Baptist...
Its a young family anchored church hence more praise music than I’m used to
And a lot of mission work...a whole lot...in hot areas...Darfur...Uganda
Churches have changed a bit since my Sunday best youth
I’m ambivalent about some of it.....I tend to go to church to hear a preacher I like to be honest about why we choose a church
That and which is good for my spawn
Sometimes I want to jump up and yell Hell Yeah
Course can’t do that...
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